[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 20, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E269]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF ALEXEI NAVALNY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RICHARD HUDSON

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 20, 2024

  Mr. HUDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of 
Alexei Navalny, who made the ultimate sacrifice in his fight for 
freedom, democracy, and basic human rights.
  For more than a decade, Navalny courageously led the unflinching 
opposition against Russian President Vladimir Putin and his evil 
cronies.
  Determined to create a truly democratic Russia, Navalny exposed Putin 
for who he truly is: a murderous, corrupt dictator.
  In August of 2020, officers of the Russian government attempted to 
kill Navalny by poison, forcing him to be evacuated and hospitalized in 
Germany.
  Despite this attempt on his life, Navalny never wavered and, after 
miraculously recovering from this attempted murder, insisted on 
returning to Russia to continue his mission of bringing freedom to his 
countrymen.
  Upon his return home, Navalny was wrongfully imprisoned by Russian 
authorities for the remainder of his life and, tragically, to his 
death.
  His only crime was his determination to speak out in the face of 
oppression and advocate for a Russia free from Putin's control.
  Throughout his imprisonment, Navalny never lost his sense of optimism 
and hope for the future. He remained positive, even telling jokes in 
court less than 24 hours before his death.
  While in prison in the Arctic Circle, Navalny continued being a 
strong voice for freedom, relying on his family, lawyers, and other 
supporters to speak out on his behalf and stand defiant against Putin's 
evil regime.
  He was a man of deep conviction who never faltered in his mission, no 
matter the cost.
  He was one of the bravest, most principled men I have ever met, and 
his memory will never be forgotten. The United States must continue 
Navalny's legacy and stand up against Putin's efforts to trample 
freedom in Europe and around the world.
  May we never stop fighting to secure peace and democracy for all 
those who seek it, just as Navalny so courageously did.

                          ____________________